St. Peter's School Ride for a Reason a Huge Success

For immediate release

Contact: Nicole Belpedio, 763-972-2528, nbelpedio@delanocatholic.com

St. Peter's School Ride for a Reason a Huge Success

Students collected more than 1,000 names of people and

causes for whom to ride and raised more than $57,000

Delano, Minn. – Wed., Oct. 7, 2008 – A six-mile bike ride through Delano in cold, rainy conditions Sat., Oct. 3 by St. Peter’s School students and their families marked the end the school’s “Ride for a Reason,” a fundraiser associated with the Marathon for Nonpublic Education.

Despite the gloomy weather, riders were all smiles.

In five weeks, students collected more than 1,000 names of special people or causes for whom they rode “in memory of” or “in honor of” that day. And, they raised $57,621.34, exceeding their fundraising goal of $50,000 for St. Peter’s School. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the school.

“Without the generous support from area residents and businesses for our students and Ride for a Reason, we would not have achieved our goal,” said Nicole Belpedio, St. Peter’s School principal. “We are very grateful for their donations and willingness to share personal stories of people for whom we could ride.

“We are deeply humbled by this opportunity to help teach our students the life-skill to stop, think beyond their own needs, and reflect upon others and pray for their well-being,” Belpedio added. “We are hopeful people will be as willing to support Ride for Reason again next year.”

Ride for a Reason in the Classroom

The students added the names they collected to a four-foot by 20-foot Ride for a Reason art mural, created by first-grade teacher Suzanne Salonek-Yager and sixth-grade students. Names collected by students included family, friends and acquaintances of donors, as well as causes and groups, such as people who have lost jobs, men and women in the military serving overseas, an improved economy, children and families without homes, health and vitality of all, the success of local businesses, and world peace.

More than 120 area businesses supported Ride for a Reason and were added to the mural, which was on display for the public to see at the Marathon finish line in the City Park and other public events during the month.

Belpedio, Fr. Christopher Wenthe and the school’s teachers guided the students during the month in a variety of special activities, such as a special Mass and frequent educational units that conveyed the importance of supporting and praying for others.

For more information about Ride for a Reason and St. Peter’s School, visit www.stpetersschool-delano.com.

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